PNG asks Australia to help develop border with Indonesia

Papua New Guinea's Defence Minister, Fabian Pok, has asked Australia for help to develop PNG's border with Indonesia.

PNG's opposition leader Belden Namah has complained to parliament that the Indonesian side is much better serviced and is luring PNG citizens to move there.

Dr Pok says the government is addressing the issue and has called for government agencies to put together a budget for improvements.

He says his talks with Australian officials indicate they are also keen to help.

"The failure on our part is not to develop our border areas, in a holistic approach. We have to set up schools and clinics and we have not done that and we realise that this is a failure on the part of the PNG government."